MOTORSPORT: Whincup to retire and run T8

The most successful Supercars team of the past 15 years is headed for an all-new future with a change of ownership, management and drivers.

Jamie Whincup will retire from driving at the end of the coming Supercars season to become the Team Principal and Managing Director of Triple Eight Racing Engineering from 2022.

The move is being made as Triple Eight’s founder and long-term leader, Roland Dane, eases towards his own retirement from full-time involvement in Supercars.

He has been gradually changing the structure of his operation for several years but the upheaval has been triggered by the introduction of a new majority shareholder, highly-successful businessman and amateur racer Tony Quinn.

The founder of VIP Petfoods and the man who made a stunning turnaround for Darrell Lea confectionary is to become the major shareholder of Triple Eight, taking a 40 per cent stake as Dane’s daughter Jessica also lifts her investment to 30 per cent.

“Since 2000, I’ve been on the sidelines of the Supercars championship as a driver, team and category sponsor. I even drove in a race,” said Quinn.

“If I’m going to make a wise investment, make it in the best structured and managed team. So Triple Eight was quite an easy choice.”

But Quinn will not have any day-to-day involvement in the running of the business, which will be in the hands of Whincup and Jessica Dane.

Roland Dane is comfortable with his company restructure and its future leadership, giving himself a full season through 2021 to ensure that things go smoothly.

“COVID-19 has reminded me that I’m not getting any younger and I’m looking forward to having more time on my hands to enjoy different forms of motorsport in different capacities and spend more time with my elder daughter in the UK, once the pandemic permits,” Roland Dane said.

“Since Jamie expressed an interest some years ago in continuing his career in motorsport with Triple Eight after he retires from full-time driving, the plan has always been for him to take the reins.

“I have every confidence that he will approach his new role with exactly the same motivation, diligence and competitive spirit that he brings to the track at every round.”

The big unanswered question in the T8 change is the replacement for Whincup – known as the GOAT in Supercars after seven driver’s championships – alongside Shane van Gisbergen in 2022.

He has yet to decide on a potential co-driving role in the Bathurst 1000 and no-one is talking about a fresh hire.

It could be Brock Feeney, who is racing Super2 for T8 in the coming season, or Brodie Kostecki in a poach from Erebus Motorsport, or an overseas ace who is capable of running alongside van Gisbergen.

But Whincup, who is already a businessman with a successful car wash business on the Gold Coast, is already committed to the change.

“I’m honoured that Roland trusts me to lead the family that he’s built here in Australia. I’ll certainly maximise every opportunity this year and beyond to learn from him and I’m grateful that he will still be dedicating a portion of his time in 2022 to ensuring the team and I have the best opportunity for success,” said Whincup.

The only other fine detail, until the team begins operating under the new regime, is confirmation that retired racer Paul Dumbrell and businessman Tim Miles have sold their shares in Triple Eight to Quinn.

The Red Bull Ampol Racing Commodores of Whincup and van Gisbergen hit the track for the first round of the 2021 Supercars Championship at Bathurst on February 26-28.